Apparatus for treating ferrous surfaces

ABSTRACT

This disclosure teaches a device for treating a ferrous surface and contemplates such applications as painting or scrubbing a ship&#39;&#39;s hull. Preferably, one or more rollers are engaged to the ferrous surface by magnets which are connected to the rollers within the width thereof by means of spring members. Thus engaged, the rollers are easily moved over the surface. Suitable paint applying devices or scrubbing brushes with drives are furnished on the rollers.

United States Patent Modrey [541 APPARATUS FOR TREATING FERROUS SURFACES[72] inventor: Henry J. Modrey, 158 Eagle Drive, Stamford, Conn. 06903221 Filed: Aug.21, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 851,920

[52] U.S.Cl ..114/222 [51] ..B63b 59/00 [58] Field of Search ..1 14/222;335/286 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,111 4/1907Arnold ..114/222 867,513 10/ 1 907 Kennedy-McGregor ..114/222 1,231,9737/1917 Van Giesen et al ..114/222 1 Feb. 1, 1972 2,104,062 H1938 Temple..114/222 3,088,429 5/1963 De Fine Brandt .lohannessen ..1 14/2223,396,423 8/1968 Hope ..114/222 Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler AssistantExaminerGregory W. O'Connor Attorney-Plane & Baxley [5 7] ABSTRACT Thisdisclosure teaches a device for treating a ferrous surface andcontemplates such applications as painting or scrubbing a ship's hull.Preferably, one or more rollers are engaged to the ferrous surface bymagnets which are connected to the rollers within the width thereof bymeans of spring members. Thus engaged, the rollers are easily moved overthe surface. Suitable paint applying devices or scrubbing brushes withdrives are furnished on the rollers.

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HENRY J, MOORE? Haw e ma ATTORNEYS PATENTED FEB 1 i9 2 SHEEI 0FATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR TREATING FERROUS SURFACES BACKGROUND OFINVENTION The invention is here presented in terms of painting thesurface of a ship's hull both above and below the waterline; however, itshould be understood that the invention is applicable likewise to suchother applications as deck painting and scrubbing marine growth from thehull surface. Further, it can serve in kindred applications for ferrousstructures.

To apply paint under water, divers are usually required. The paint isapplied under pressure by hand rollers which are covered by suitablepaint-applying material (such felt, chamois, etc.). Power-drivenapplicators are also in use, and comprise a rotating brush driven by apneumatic motor; the paint is fed to the center of the brush. Operationsperformed by divers are expensive. Moreover, unless scaffolding isemployed, the paint application pressure which can be achieved is small,because the diver has nothing against which to brace himself.

After suitable surface preparation, it is application pressure (achievedby working the paint in) which governs the service life of a coat ofpaint. Therefore, it is desirable to have a marine paint applicator inwhich adequate and reliable paint application pressure is assured.

SUMMARY The present invention deals with the foregoing problem in anovel and facile way. One or more rollers are engaged to a ferroussurface (such as steel) by magnets. Thus engaged, the rollers are easilyrolled or adapted to slide over the surface.

One object of this invention is to provide a device for treating steelsurfaces with application pressure contributed by magnetic adhesion.

A further object is to assure adequate and reliable applicationpressure.

A further object is to allow adjustment of magnetic adhesion by simplemechanical means.

A further object is to equalize application pressure on a plurality ofrollers.

A further object is to facilitate movement of magnets over the surfaceto be treated.

A further object is to provide for scrubbing of the steel surface withbrushes for removal of marine growth.

A further object is to provide for painting of the steel surface withpaint-applying material mounted about said rollers.

A further object is to provide for movement of the apparatus sideways.

A further object is to provide convenient storage of the apparatus byattaching it to convenient steel surfaces.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which is simple and robustand which is otherwise well suited to its intended task.

DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features will appear more fully fromthe accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts andwherein:

FIG. I is a partly broken top view, looking inward upon the steelsurface to be treated, of an apparatus according to this invention andadapted for painting.

FIG. 2 is a partly broken side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the pole surface of a magnetchamfered for easy sliding movement over the steel surface to betreated.

FIG. 4 is a partly broken and partly sectioned top view of anotherembodiment of this invention adapted for scrubbing to remove marinegrowth.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial broken top view of another embodiment of thisinvention having wheel magnets for easier movement.

FIG. 6A is a broken detail of a different paint-feeding system.

FIG. 7 generally depicts operation of an apparatus according to thisinvention applied to the side of a ship.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged detail of a stop disk which engages the bilgekeel of the ship shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a top view which shows the layout of the deck of the shipshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the application of a liftingshield for moving the apparatus sideways.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the lifting shield of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11, 12A, 12B, 13A. and 13B graphically illustrate another system,comprising a pawl and spur gears organized to move the apparatus aprecise distance sideways, in response to a pull at a lanyard.

FIG. 14 is a broken top view of another embodiment of this inventionadapted for painting by hand.

FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of this invention adapted forpainting and with wheel magnets mounted on its roller.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 generally shows operation of an apparatus according to thisinvention applied to painting a ship's deck.

FIG. 18 illustrates an alternate arrangement suited to painting a ship sdeck.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Broadly this disclosure includes surface treatingdevices having general features in common with conventional paintapplicators but provided with magnets 21 such as the one shown in FIGS.14 and 16, as well as a similar embo;iment shown in FIG. 15 with wheelmagnets 22 mounted about roller 23. Because the magnets 22 streak paintwhile sliding over the freshly painted surface, a second roller 24 (suchas in FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided in some embodiments to smooth suchstreaks. Double roller apparatuses for painting are shown in FIGS. I and2, and for scrubbing in FIGS. 4 and 5. A like embodiment is shown inFIG. I6 with wheel magnets 22.

As .depicted in FIG. 15 the most simple form of this invention includesroller 23 which is here adapted for painting and with wheel magnets 22connected thereto for holding roller 23 in engagement with a surface tobe painted. Wheel magnets 22 have a smaller diameter than paint-applyingmaterial 25 This apparatus is operable by hand or it can be mounted onthe end of a pole such as pole 26 preferably provided with a swiveledferrule 26a, shown in FIGS. 14 and 16. Ordinarily paint rollers have aferrule which is firmly connected to the frame. The ferrule transmitsthe application pressure which the operator exercises via pole 26 (whichoften bends to if the job is done well). In FIGS. 14 and 16 the ferruleswivels, because roller 23 sticks to hull surface 29 and roller 23 issimply pulled up and down by the operator. For this purpose, a swiveledferrule is far preferred.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and I6 is a simple, convenient paintapplicator for general use on steel surfaces. Several magnets 21 aremounted on spring arms 27 which cantilever beyond one of the pairedmagnets 21 to rigidly engage frame 28 so that roller 23 is held againstsurface 29. As best seen in FIG. I6 spring arms 27 and yoke pieces 31(of frame 28) welded thereto form a crank which is urged by magnets 21toward surface 29. Application pressure can be changed by adjusting thespan of spring arms 27 relative cantilever portions 32. Roller 23 isconventional and includes perforated cylinder 33 having a cover of asuitable paint applying material 25 (such as felt, chamois or the like)and encloses an interior paint reservoir with filler cap 34 permittingeither filling the reservoir with paint, or else connecting it to apaint feed hose. This embodiment could also have a nonperforatedcylinder 33 by merely dipping roller 23 into a bucket of paint. As shownin FIG. 6A, a different paint-feeding system permits the paint to dripout under gravity through perforated tube 33a positioned between shroud33b and roller 23. This last-mentioned paintfeeding system is used withthe arrangement of FIG. 18.

Material 25 (usually felt) is quite thick to start with but it abradesrather rapidly. It is ordinarily replaced when it wears through. Thismeans that the overall diameter of the paint roller will diminish byapproximately one fourth inch as the operation goes on. Spring arms 27and yoke pieces 31 of FIGS. 14 and 16 make up for the decrease indiameter of material 25 and maintain application pressure fairlyconstant in that embodiment.

The advantage of magnets in paint application service is thatapplication pressure is produced automatically and uniformly by theaction of the magnets, independently of the efforts of the painter. Thisprinciple is also valid for any other apparatus to treat a steel surfacewherein adequacy and/or reliability of application pressure is ofconcern.

A two-roller apparatus suitable for rope operation is shown in FIGS. 1and 2. This apparatus is suitable for both over and underwater painting.Frame 28 has paint rollers 23, 24 journaled therein in parallel spacedrelationship. Either one or both rollers 23, 24 can be supplied withpaint via manifold 35 and paint feed hose 36. Frame 28 includes sidepieces 37 with crossbars 38 connected therebetween. Several permanentmagnets 21 are spanned by spring arms 27 which extend beyond magnets 21for connection at both ends to crossbars 38. Spring arms 27 are slightlycurved to equalize pressure on rollers 23, 24. As shown in FIG. 3,magnets 21 have chamfered pole faces to facilitate their sliding oversteel surface 29 which is to be treated. When this apparatus is putagainst steel surface 29, here envisaged to be the hull of a ship, itadheres firmly thereto. Resilience of spring arms 27 enables theapparatus to surmount irregularities of the surface without losing itsadhesion. The strength of magnets 21 and the geometric relationship ofportions 32 of spring arms 27 to the span of spring arms 27 betweenpaired magnets 21 determines paint application pressure. Thisapplication pressure can be regulated by shifting the position ofmagnets 21 on spring arms 27.

If desirable the slidable magnets 21 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 can be replacedby electromagnets, or by wheel magnets 22 turning on axle stubs 39 asshown in FIG. 6 whereby the apparatus will move more easily. The edgesof wheel magnets 22 would also be chamfered as shown.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and is a scrubber used to remove marinegrowth prior to painting. For reasons which will become apparent, it isdesirable to make this scrubber as a separate unit from the paintapplicator because frame dimensions will be different. Rollers 23, 24have steel bristles 41. Manifolds 42 and hose 43 carry air underpressure. Internally, rollers 23, 24 are air energized. In roller 23 isshown directrix 44 and turbine wheel 45. Turbine wheel 45 is on shaft 46which is fixed in eccentric 47. Eccentric 47 engages gear 48 whichengages fixed internal gear 49. Gear 49 engages a separate eccentric 51(behind eccentric 47) fixed on output shaft 52. Spider 53 on shaft 52connects to bearing 54 for rotating bristle roller 23. Fixed cylinder 55has slot 56 facing surface 29. Distal end 57 of roller 23 has anotherbearing 58. In order for driving air to exit under bristles 41, it mustpass from turbine wheel 45, and thence between gears. 48 and 49 intofixed cylinder 55. This is possible due to space 59 between gears 48 and49, and because of openings 61 in spider 53. Roller 23 is of open orscreened construction.

These two-roller apparatuses are not motorized. They are moved by ropes62 attached to hoisting rings 63 and 64. Hoisting ring 64 is shaped toprovide a fulcrum for disengaging magnets 21 from a hull by extendingsupporting rope 62 outward from the hull. By way of example in paintingship hulls without scaffolding, a rope 62 from winch 65 has to be slungacross the bottom of the ship as shown in FIG. 7 to effect movement ofthe apparatus to and fro. Winch 65 can be mounted on rail 66 and can beoperated conveniently by air pressure from lines 67 with taps 68 asshown. FIG. 8 shows the layout of the deck. Painting of a hull must bedone in two sections, viz above and below bilge keels 69 which theapparatus cannot surmount. To prevent chafing, rope 62 is slidablyencased in nylon tubing 71 for most of its length. The lower end oftubing 71 carries stop disk 70 (see FIG. 7A) which abuts on bilge keel69 when wire rope 6 2 is tightened so that movement of tubing 71 isprevented. Winch 65 is able to pull the apparatus up and down betweenbilge keel 69 and scupper 72. The procedure is comparable for the otherside of the ship. For painting between the bilge keels 69, which issorely required in routine maintenance, the device is lifted over onebilge keel by a diver and it thereafter operates between the two bilgekeels.

A specific problem is to move the apparatus sideways after it haspainted, scrubbed or otherwise treated one strip. It is not practical topry the apparatus off the hull and affix it again. FIG. 9 illustratesone suitable method for accomplishing this objective. From rail 73 hangslifting shield 74. As shown in FIG. 10, at the end of its upward travelthe painting apparatus moves onto lifting shield 74 which is simply awedge-shaped piece of wood covered with sheet steel 75. In this waymagnets 21 (or 22 as the case may be) transfer this attachment forcefrom the ship's hull to the steel sheet 75, and lifting shield 74 withthe apparatus attached thereto is simply shifted sideways to the nextstrip.

The simple device of FIGS. 9 and 10 has some disadvantages. A minordisadvantage is that lifting shield 74 covers the top of the strip whichmust be finished thereafter by hand painting. A major disadvantage isthat it is difficult to move pull rope 62 at the bottom of its run (nearbilge keel 69) by precisely a desired distance (for example a stripwidth). Because this movement takes place under water, it is difficultto move the pull rope a precise amount without using a diver. Therefore,it is expedient to include in the apparatus means which cause it to movesideways with some degree of precision either under or over water.Further, it is preferable that this device be mechanical rather thanelectrical, in view of the fact that the use of electricity is severelyrestricted on some ships (tankers for example). Toward these objectives,walking device 76 shown in FIGS. 11 through 138 was devised. Walkingdevice 76 is operable in either left or right direction by the alternateuse of one of the lanyards 77, 78 operating spur tooth pawl 79 which inturn operates spur gears 81 which may have magnets thereon. Arm 82 hascam 83 at its inner end and spindles pawl 79 at its outer end. Gear 84fixed to bevel gear 85 turns freely on shaft 86. Shaft 86 at its far endhas crank stop 87 which, meeting pins 88 on the frame, limits rotationof shaft 86 to in either direction. Springs 89 attached to arm 82 areprespread into their normal position about post 90 as shown in FIG. 12A.Similarly prespread are springs 91 fixed to an extension of the frame.Springs 89 are light compared to springs 91. Pull on lanyard 78 passingaround roller 92 will first turn pawl 79 into engagement with gear 84which turns bevel gear 85 and spur gears 81. A 90 turn (as shown fromFIG. 12A to FIG. 12B) ensures a full repositioning of spur gears 81. Ifpawl 79 does not engage gear 84 at first, mismatch is self-correcting. Aturn of less than 90 does no harm as the magnets on spur gears 81 willbe so close to the hull that they will pull themselves into finalposition. The center yoking of lanyard 78 over roller 92 is necessary tomaintain engagement of pawl 79. On release of lanyard 78 spring 89bearing against post 90 disengages pawl 79 from gear 84. The weight ofarm 82 and pawl 79 starts pawl 79 downward. Springs 91 complete returnof pawl 79 to its initial position.

The problem associated with painting a ship's deck is to steer thepaint-applying apparatus around various obstacles such as cargo hatches,ventilating trunks and the like. A scheme for painting a ships deck isshown in FIG. 17 wherein the device according to FIG. I is pulled foreand aft by winches 66 at either end of the ship. As steering isnecessary, it can be accomplished by pulling on ropes 93 attached to thesides of the apparatus. This procedure can be assisted somewhat byguiding the lengthwise pull ropes 62 over pulleys or derricks to alignmovement of the apparatus. Side pulling, in coaction with the straightwinch pull, permits steering in a surprisingly effective manner. Onegets about the equivalent of tacking in a sailboat. Trials have shownthat about 70 percent of the deck surface of a cargo ship can be paintedin this manner, and more than 85 percent of the deck of a tanker.

FIG. 18 shows a bicyclelikc arrangement especially suited to painting ofdecks. A gravity paint feeding system such as the one shown in FIG. 6Ais here employed. Seat 94 and handles 95 are adjustable. Staggered wheelmagnets 22 provide traction. Springs 96 regulate leveling andapplication pressure. Steering joint 98 is limited, so this apparatuscan be picked up by means of eyelets 97.

Magnetic apparatuses as taught in this disclosure have the addedadvantage of being easily stored on shipboard by merely attaching theirmagnets to convenient steel surfaces. Such storage is beneficial to thelife spans of these magnets.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for treating a substantially planer ferrous surface,said apparatus comprising in combination:

a frame including a pair of parallel sidepieces;

a pair of rollers rotatably supported by said frame and disposed thereinin spaced-apart parallel relationship, said rollers being journaled attheir ends in said sidepieces and organized for rolling engagement withthe surface to be treated;

a pair of crossbars each connected between the sidepieces and inward ofsaid rollers;

magnet means;

spring means supported by said frame and supporting said magnet meansintermediate said rollers, said spring means being biased to urge saidmagnet means into engagement with said surface when said rollers areplaced in engagement with the surface, said spring means including aspring arm arranged parallel to and inward of said sidepieces andconnected at each of its ends to one of the crossbars and said magnetmeans being mounted on said spring arm for engagement of both of saidrollers with said surface; and

forward drive means attachable to said frame for rolling the rollers onand along said surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim I and further comprising sidewaysdrive means supported by said frame for displacing said frame sidewaysthrough predetermined increments.

3. The apparatus of claim I with said magnet means comprising achamfered pole surface to facilitate sliding over said surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 with the spring arms organized for bowingtoward said surface to equalize pressures on said rollers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 with said magnet means including a magnetrotatably mounted for rolling along said surface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 with a paint-applying materialmounted about at least one of said rollers and means for supplying paintthereto.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 with a paint-applying materialmounted about both of said rollers and means for supplying paintthereto.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 with said roller adapted to engage a shipshull,

sideways drive means including spur gears connected to the frame andarranged to engage said hull sideways relative said rollers,

means operable by a lanyard for turning said spur gears to move saidframe sideways relative said rollers through a predetermined distance inresponse to an operation of the lanyard.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 with said spur gears mounting magnet means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising sidewaysdrive means supported by said frame for displacing said frame sidewaysthrough predetermined increments.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 with saidmagnet means comprising a chamfered pole surface to facilitate slidingover said surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 with the spring armsorganized for bowing toward said surface to equalize pressures on saidrollers.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 with said magnet means including amagnet rotatably mounted for rolling along said surface.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1 with a paint-applying material mountedabout at least one of said rollers and means for supplying paintthereto.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 with a paint-applyingmaterial mounted about both of said rollers and means for supplyingpaint thereto.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 with said roller adapted toengage a ship''s hull, sideways drive means including spur gearsconnected to the frame and arranged to engage said hull sidewaysrelative said rollers, means operable by a lanyard for turning said spurgears to move said frame sideways relative said rollers through apredetermined distance in response to an operation of the lanyard. 9.The apparatus of claim 8 with said spur gears mounting magnet means.